Haaland Fires 5th World Cup Goal, Sending Norway to Brazil as Solbakken Hails Him Best
Updated
Updated · ESPN · Jun 30
Haaland Fires 5th World Cup Goal, Sending Norway to Brazil as Solbakken Hails Him Best
3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jun 30
Summary
Erling Haaland’s late winner against Ivory Coast sent Norway into the World Cup last 16, where they will face Brazil on Sunday.
Five goals in 3 games have left the 25-year-old one behind Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race and extended his scoring streak to 25 goals in 13 competitive matches since October 2024.
Stale Solbakken called Haaland the world’s greatest goalscorer, saying the striker stayed decisive despite limited involvement and did not lose the ball once in Dallas.
The victory was Norway’s first ever World Cup knockout win, though Solbakken said Brazil are favorites and insisted the team would savor the historic result before shifting focus.
Haaland's late winner saved Norway, but is their reliance on him a fatal flaw for their World Cup dream?
Norway has never lost to Brazil. Can this underdog team extend their perfect record in the World Cup knockouts?
Norway’s Breakthrough World Cup: First Knockout Win and the Challenge of Brazil
Overview
On June 30, 2026, Norway made football history by defeating Ivory Coast 2-1 in their first-ever World Cup knockout stage win. Antonio Nusa opened the scoring, Amad Diallo equalized for Ivory Coast, but Erling Haaland secured the dramatic victory with a late goal. Norway’s success was built on remarkable resilience, clinical efficiency, and strong teamwork under coach Ståle Solbakken. Their organized midfield, tactical discipline, and ability to be more efficient in key moments were crucial. This breakthrough marks a new era for Norwegian football, showcasing their collective strength on the world stage.